Alarm mechanism



1. M. BUTCHER AND B..FUNSTON.

ALARM MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. l5.: 1919.

1,3 31,694, 'Patented Feb. 24,1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

"MII III IIIIIIIIM l x g4 IIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIII' -L J. M. BUICHE-R AND E. B. FUNSTON.

ALARM MECHANISNI'.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I5 1919.

Patented Feb. 24,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 tif - ieieal.k

l UNITED STATES mm1 o iAiviEsi/n reprenait; `or CHICAGO; ILLiNoIS, AND EDMUND .13.. FUNsToii,.foF RACINE; e `Louyrisooiiisrir... .c

` ,Y Amitie! MEc:liifiifiiisiviiiV To all euhomz'tvmay Concern Be'- itfknown v`that we, JAMES and EnixiUND 'B. Feiss-ron, citizens oit the United States;

State' of yWisconsin, e respe` ctively,`v have invented certainiiew and useiil`=Improve-...l

mentsinAlarm- Mechanism, of whichfthe following isfa descriptiomreference beingi4"dranvinlgs, 'which' had kto .the -ac'fcompanyin form l a Vpart" '-ofour speci cation.

' Our invention relates" to 'alarm mecha-` nisms more especially intended for `useiin connectionwith'cash or jewel boxesV or other containers forvaluable documents and* the like; the invention having oritsfobJectthe provisiony of 'mechanismwhich will be'positivein operation and of such simple and sen-r sitivemature-'that its manipulation maybe readily accomplishedfwhile at the same-time: mechanism quickly. induced operation oi'l` the e through vthe-slightest movement of the-convention,

tainer or box 0r an element movably secured to :the container' to which 'the mechanism is applied.

AnotherV 'ob'ect of ourf 'invention iis 'to' yprovide fa construction Whose positioning .or alarm-sounding condition can. 'beV controlled y from the lcontainer' exterior Vjby :a suitable key, key-receiving slot y"or socket `after the valarm mechanism -hasvbeen *placed .in "set-7 or .alarm-eectingposition.

Our inventionl al'sofcontemplates the pro# vision of mechanismt whereby lTant auxiliary 4 be sounded r the latten mechanism beingfpreferably independently; control-ledwso far asfits csetting or*supplementa'lA alarm. :may

or operative position' is concerned'7 but oper auxy comprehended .'.roni'f the V.following i detailedV description; of the accompanying drawings,` wherein:'-# .y lo A Figure lis stv-perspective view otatype BUTGHERk and-residents of Chicago,` sin the'wcounty yof Cook'l and Sta'teofl illinois; and ofRa'cineg inthe county of Racinei'andr which can only be `-withdrai'vn from the.

.be understood that theinventioir .,@speihtiqnofLettersraient. iatentediiebgai, 1920.1I genauenfiiedL-ifrarchis, 1919i `'serialize'. eszgsie.' i

mechanism may Vv:be applied ;f the mechanismI beingzadaptedi .tol be installed in :onel end of` the .container as shown. 'in i fsubsequenti iigthe box :or: container" illustrated;v whiletthe inoperative ornon-set posi-1 Y 651 mechanismis shown in released or alarm-V sounding position. o Y I Figfisa detail sectional view ofn an 'aux-'f iliary or supplemental alarm mechanism.

. ,Figg is a detailview in perspective ofta modified form lof alarm 1 tripping .orc releasl' ing means@ y In the particular 'exemplication .ofburl invention, it isy shown appliedl to a metal box' oi vthe type Vusually employed as a cash or: jewel box;"the mechanism beinggintended: to beFsecuredwithin thelbox andy to one enel Wall thereof;- with the l 1 mechanism. lA prefer-` ablyinclosed in :a suitable housing so'aslnot to beinterfered with or affected bythe contentsof the'boX. l

The mechanism; 'as illustrated vin the fir-st figures'of the drawings,v is ,intended-tome tripped or released f through movement i i of-l the container or boxI in which the. ymecha'y nism isinstalled; th'atiisythrough any shiftf ingof the containeralong the shelf or other element on Vwhich the container rests,'or by lifting the-container oit' the.shelfonstandfj while in the modification" of the mechanism, thei=tripping or` releasingis caused by the movement i of a protruding portion adapted to -have movement 'relative -to the box 0r container.

The principal. .alarmfmechanism `mayl comprise any'suitablebell or :gongshown at10, -providedi'iwitli the4 usual. springfA driven meclianismcontrolled by; a suitable detent; the springfbeing usually controlled or wound.-througbproper rotation of the' bellfor gong'. 10; the spring-:driven mecha-f nism, which is fusual-ly housed'within- .f the bell or gong is of'a well known construction and therefore needs no descriptionnor detailed illustration.

The pinion 11 of the spring-actuatedes- V capement is maintained against rotation by the pallet or detent 12towhich the strikerV 13 is secured; the vibratory movement of the strikerelement 13 being induced by lugs 14Y on the detent 12 coming into striking or frictional engagement with the teeth of the escapement heldv inholdmgp'osition with; pinion 11 by means of a collar or shoulder 15-y on aspringcontrolled pin 16 which extends through to Y the .rear of the housing or shell of the alarm mechanism, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4.l

by means of a finger 18 secured on the inner end of a rock-shaft 19. Theinger 18 and rock-shaft 19 are vunder spring tension by means of a 'spring 20 shown disposed abouti the rock-shaft and adapted to rock the shaft 19 in a direction which will force finger 18 toward the end of pin 16. The rock-shaft 19 is horizontally disposed and rockinglyv mounted in a suitable bracket or housing. Secured to rock-shaft'19 is a bell-crank lever 21, one end thereof is shown disposed through a slot'in the supporting bracket or frame 22, while the other end is disposed forwardly in a horizontal direction and engages with a reciprocating member or vertically movable plunger 23 which is slidably mounted. in the bracket or housing 22. The lowerend of the member or plunger 23 is shown provided with an off-set foot or.ex tension 24 which provides a support;v for a loosely suspended pendulum member 25. so as to retain the upper end of the stem portion of the pendulum member in proximity to the lower end or surface23a of the main portion of the plunger 23; the foot portion 24being of such construction as to permit pendulum member 25 to swing freely to either side of its vertical axis; while at the same time causing the pendulum 25v to move upwardly yor downwardly with the plunger 23 when the latter is reciprocated through the manipulation of a key-controlled tumbler or stem mounted in the barrel 26. The barrel 26 is suitably'mounted on the bracket or frame 22 and to the wall of the cash box or container so as to have the end of the barrel 26 extend through or into a suitable opening in the end wall of the container or box, as shown at 2 7 in Figs. 1 and 4. The inner end of the tumbler or stem, within barrel 26, is provided with a cam or ec-V centrically mounted disk 28 which is adaptinion 11. The detentp12 is upperl end of. reciprocatingly mounted ment. ber or plunger23. The cam-*28 is so-'secured to thetumbler or key-controlled :stem that the eccentric portion thereof will force plun' ger 23 upwardly and move the alarm mechanismY into v.inoperative position. The, pored vto engage with: a pin`29 secured to the i tionof the'cam or disk 28adjacent'the stem y or tumbler,is slottedf adjacent its periphery as shown at 30 in Figs. 2 Vand3.; the slot 30V being open ended, 'so as to reoeivefthe` pin-*29V when'the disk or cam is l'rotated through a proper turning of the key-controlledvstem or tumblerwhereby the eccentric-portion of the disk ismoved. into a position below'its axisk as shown in Fig. 3. Such rotation of the disk will cause the pin 29 to enter thefslot 30 and thus hold plunger.23 in its down-` Walid -position and prevent' any improper movement of plunger memberr23; that is to vg5, `say :plunger member 23 will befheld lin Vits ber 25. Thesopening 33 in the box is inL tended to permit the pendulum to come intoV frictional contact with the shelfl or table on which the container rests and also permit downward movement of the pendulum when the box is lifted from the shelf. lThe rod 31 is preferably shown provided with a lug or finger 34, see Fig. 2, whichis adapted toj be engaged by the-lower or depending endv f of bell-crank'lever 21,as shown at 35 in Fig. 2; andthe rod or stem' 31is also shown.V provided with a spring 36 coiled thereabout; with one end of thesprng suitably secured to the bracket 22, as'shown jin Fig. 4, while the oppositeend is shown disposed about or in operative contact with the lug or linger 34, which latter is firmly secured to rodor stem` 31' so as to oscillate therewith. The spring 36 is so securedthat it will induce rod 31 to rotate, when the lower end 35 of bell-cranklever'21 is moved out of contactv with lug or finger 34 so as to cause lplate 32 to swing away from opening 33 in the boti tom 'of the box or container and thereby uncover thevr opening so as to permit pend-ulum member 25 to depend intothe opening 33 in the mannershown vin Fig. 3,VV

namely with the lower endof the pendulum in frictional contact withV'the-s'helf or` element on which the box or container is placed. Assuming that the alarniproper 10 has its energizing spring suitably wound ,'(the winding being'usually {effected -by rotating the bell or gong msm is then set, after having-firstV placed.

proper), the alarm mechathe boron the shelf where it l`isztoremain, by means of asultable key inserted inthe opening -27 of the boX or container and bar-1` rel 26 sofas to rotate the .tumbler orstem within Vbarrel26 in such directionithat the eccentric portion of disk orfcam28 willrbe disposed below l the-key operated. stemA or tumbler, namely into the position shqpnin Fig. i 3,5 and pin 29, at `the upper end of plunger 23, will have enteredV the open ended yso slot 30 rofthe cam,`thereby locking plunger. 23 against any upward movement. Plungerv member `23 is caused to move downwardly .when cam 28 is rotated in the manner` just described, through the actionrof` the springv 2O on the rock-shafti19towhichbell-crank lever 21 is secured, the'forceof spring 2()` being transmitted to plunger 23T-'by the outer end of bell-crank lever 211 whichvis disposed in a slot-37 of plunger 23, see Figs. 2 and 3. 1 Y

Plunger 23 lwill Itherefore be positively moved .downwardly Vand at the same timecarry pendulum 25 with it .soy-that the latter will be disposed slightly through opening 33 in the bottom of the box or container andtherefore in frictional contact with the shelf or other element on which theiboX or container rests. Thependulum 25l has free swinging relation with the portion. 24. off

plunger v23 this lrelation :in the` particular eXemplification shown inthe drawings being somewhat in the nature of a `ball and socket connection at 38; while the upper; end of the stem portion of the pendulum' is preferably slightly rounded. and forcedL into frictional Contact with .the .smooth'sur-1 faced end 23a of plunger 23fby reason of` the pendulum .comingsintofcontact with the shelf and ward.movement of plunger v23 induced by spring-20 `and lever 21'.y The relationibetween vthe upper endof the Vpendulumcand the, surface 23a is such force encountered by the lowerfend of the pendulum through shifting of the box on. the shelf, or release of the pendulum. .caused bythe lifting of the-.box from the shelf,

will cause the upper end of thestemlofthe `son of the contact of pendulum25. `with the shelf, tablenor other element onA whichthe box or container rests, the pendulum will thereby arresting further ydownV that the .v slightest prevent :plunger 23y fromA moving to its ex,-A treme lowest position, so tliat.;the

plunger and the 4rock-i-shaft `19, to whichubell crank rlever 21 q 1sV rigidly secured, will. be heldVKV under spring pressure l induced by spring 20.;'.,5Arresting of plunger 231in its downward movement as described will also p. arrest-movement ofbellfcrank lever 21, rock?.` is

shaft'V 19 and fingerv 118; `while springy20fisl exerting pressure :on Vfinger 18 'in a\direcpin.l6 .isi

tionv toward pin 16. As .longas. in normalA position, due toi .the action of, .itsl

spring 17:, the collar or. shoulder k15 will re1-` main in holding VMcontact with detent14 and.v

cause the latter to lhold pinion 11 against rotation.' As is evident from the construction shown and l`escribed,theslightest movement of pendulum. 25,;toward one side/of lits Vvertical axis, .or .in further .vertical 'directionas` the casefmay be," will allow further downward. movement. of plunger 23,1` due to YtheV action of spring 20 and thus causefingerzl to lforce pin 16inwardly againstithe action of its spring `17 :and thereby `move collar 15 out of holding engagement with detent 14, with the result thatdetentl14 willybe prevented .from holding pinion 11` against' rotation. kThe movementof collar orshoul-` der 15 out ofholding engagement with V,detent V14 permits the latter to have free oscillation .or VVvibration induced` by, ,-frictional contact with ,v the teeth ofY pinion 11 ;V such; oscillation or, vibratory ;move1nentl ofthe detent 14y causing the striker 13, `secured thereto, to ring. the bell or gong. ,Y J

In addition to thealarm mechanism just` described,` we also .disclose an v.auxiliar-y alarm, preferablyfin the naturewof hammer or trigger mechanism adapted to" explodek or fire a shell `which islshown at 39 placed in a` suitable holder or barrel member 40., The holder 40 isshown vhaving slotv and pin con-` nection, at 41 with the housing or sideL of the box so as to permit theholder /l-O` :to: 'be moved upwardly out of horizontal ,alinement withthe end of the trigger containing hous-A .ing 42 which Ais shown disposed horizontally;- above the alarm or gong v10 and, rearward of the housing. of the gong orbell y10. The hous-f ing 42 has a trigger or plunger 43 slid-ably; mounted thereingthe trigger or plunger 431 being .provided with 'an upwardlyidisposed lug or finger/14 which passes through a slot 45 formed in the top of the housing `42, sec Figs. 2 andv. The plunger Outrigger 43 isprovidedfwith a coil spring 46 shown disf posed about the trigger rearward of thelug or finger 44:,while the other end of the` spring presses againstthe end wall or lug of the vhousing 42. ltlv evidentthat reary ward movement of plunger. or `trigger 43 will compress-the spring` 4G and` thereby place the plungeror trigger 43 under spring; pres.-l sure whichVv tendsgto force plunger 43 toward the cartridge or shell 39. The plunger or trigger 4.3 passes through an opening in the end wall of the housing 42 and is provided with a notch 47 on the lower surface thereof which is adapted to engage withthe end .wall of the housingp42 when the plunger or trigger 43 has been drawn back against the y action of spring 46, with the rear end of the trigger disposed through the closedgend of the'housing, as shown Vin Fig. 5. `The Iaction of spring46 will lalso slightly depress the plunger .or trigger .43 and Vcause notch or shoulder `47 to engagewith the endwall of the housing 42 and thus holdthe trigger 43 in its retracted or set position, namely with the forward or pointed end thereof at a distance removed from the 'cartridge holder 40; it being understood, of course, that the` forward end of the housing 43 is open or l provided with an opening in alinement with the tip or point of the plunger and also with the center of the cartridge, namely in alinement with Vthe percussion cap in lthe 'cartridge. Pivotally mounted on a post 48 .on

the housing of the alarm mechanism, or on `the end wall of the box or container', 1s a tripper member 49; .with one end thereof Y in sliding engagement with thebottom of the trigger 43, while theV other end is disposed. in the path of a finger 50 secured to the main'spring winding key or post 51 of the gong 10'; the finger 50 being so secured to the key or post 51 as to rotate therewith when the bell is rung through theproper operation of detent 14; the ringing of the bell or un-r shoulder thereof, out of engagement with been set. As is' evident from the construc-l the wall of the housing 42 and permit spring 46 to exert its tension on trigger 43, causing the latter to fly forwardly into Astriking en*- v gagement with the cartridge 39, so as to cause the latter to explode and produce a report or auxiliary alarm at the same time bell or gong 10 is being sounded. lhe'n it is merely desired to use the bell or gong, the trigger 43 will be left .in the non-firing position, shown in Fig. 2. Y

Y In Fig. 6 we show a slight modified form of our invention, wherein the box or con-` tainer is provided with a loosely mounted slide or projection 52, having one end disposed through an opening in the side wall of the container, while the inner end is arranged beneath the pendulum 25 to support the same'in frictional relation with the bottom of plunger 2 3 when the mechanism has will allow spring 20 to force finger 18 against Y theend of pin 16 and release thedetent 14.

The slide 52 is shown provided with an aperture 53, whereby a suitable dark thread,

stringi-or fine wiremay be secured Atothev slide andbe strung or led across thefpath leading to the box or container, in such'a manner that an unauthorized persony will come into contactwith the `thread (the other end whereof is suitably securedto some sta-` tionary object) and thereby exert a pull onv the slide 52 so as to move the inner end there-V j of and cause the pendulumY 25 to swingl side-A y wise out of holding relation with plunger 23.

It is apparent-that our improved construction may readily be employed as a burglar alarm, by simply inclosing the mechanism ina suitable container made just large enough to hold the mechanism so as to adapt it being set or placed in. a dresser-drawer or other desired place; and the mechanism be tripped or set ofi' either through the use of a string, or through movement of the container.

What we claim and wish to secure by LettersPatent is Y V1. Alarm mechanisml of :the classv described, adapted to be installed in a con# tainer, comprising an energized alarm element provided with an escapement, springcontrolled. meansv normally adapted to control the escapement andpreventV sounding of the alarm element, reciprocatingly mounted means, operable from thecontainer exterior, normally tending to move 'in one direction, said means being adapted lto force said first mentionedmeans against the acs tion of its spring and thereby release lsaid escapement, and gravity-actuated means adapted, when disposed in longitudinal `alinement with the reciprocating means, to arrest final movement of the reciprocatinglyk mounted meansV whereby the spring-com` ilo i trolled means f are left in normal escapement holding position.

Alarm mechanism of the class 'described, comprising a lspring-controlled valarm element providedv with an escapement whereby action Vof thel spring is arrested, spring-controlled slidabl'e means normally adapted to arrest said escapement, vertically movable means adapted toV control said spring-controlled means, means whereby said vertically movable means are-yieldingly forced downward and the first means controlled, a key-controlled cam adapted to raise said vertically movable means, and a pendulum freely mounted beneath said vertically -movable means and adapted, when in direct alinement with said means, to rvar- .insiemi rest the. downwardinovement of the vertically movable. means `against the yielding force of said third means.

.3; Alarm Lmechanism= .ot tlie class j described, adapted -to be. installed in a container, comprising an energized alarm element, springfcontrolled means wlierebyfsaid "alarm element is controlled, vertically movablev means arrangedfto control: said'springlcontrolled means,va key-controlled cam op-V erable from thel carrier.v evterior` and adapted to position said vertically inovablelmeans, and a pendulum mounted beneath saidveiticallymovable means and vadapted to be disposed through an aliierture..` in thebottoni of the container, said pendulum, when in vertical alinement with thefverticallymovable means and when said.. aperture is covered,

being adapted to `arrest further. downward movement of the secondinentionedy means,

l while downwardaor sidewise movement of .so as to hold: the'latter .against-the. actionof its spring, a pendulum .member adapted to have vertical and `oscillatory .movements andadapted-to be. disposed in directalinenient with and beneathsaid vertically `mova- `ble plunger, said pendulum member being ,arranged to hold said plunger .member against continued downward movement throughfthe. action of said spring-controlled memberwhen the pendulum vmember is in vertical position, and key-controlled means operable from the container exterior. and arranged in operative relation with said vertically movable plunger whereby .vertical movement of the plunger is controlled and positioning of the spring-controlled member is determined.

5. Alarm mechanism adapted toy be installed in a container, comprising an ener-y gized alarm element, a spring-controlled rock-shaft adapted to control the release of said alarm element, a4 vertically movable plunger operatively connected with said rock-shaft so as to control themovement of the latter, key-controlled means having operative relation with said vertically movable plunger, and a vertical and sidewise moving pendulum adapted to swing into vertical alinement with said'plunger so as to arrest its continued downward movement when the pendulum isheld against vertical movement, said pendulum being adapted to Vbe affected from the container exterior and be moved out of vertical alinement withv said plunger andl thereby release the spring controlled rock-shaftand sound the alarm.

6. Alarm. mechanism of the. vclass den scribed, adapted to be 1 installed; in a.; c011- tainer, comprising an energized `alarm, element, a spring-controlled rock-shaft where by thesounding ofl the alarm is controlled, a vertically ovable plunger operatively lconnected'ivith saidrocksliaftso as to hold the` latter i yagainst ,1 the: action `of its spring, key-controlled means arranged iny operative relation with said plunger andconti'ollable from; the. containerf exterior, and; a vertically .and `sideivise moving pendulum mounted beiieathc said.` plunger and controllable from the. container*eXter1or,.1said pendulum being adaptedl to` arrest the plunger against :further downward 4movement when .said

pendulum is iii vertical alinenient therevwith andy held against movement.

'7. An alarm. mechanism ot'rtherclass deadapted tol control. the pallet of the escapel.ment of asa-id alarm, Va .vertically slidable scribed, vadapted to. be installed in` acontainei', comprising a spring-controlled valarm provided with an, cscapeinent, a rockshaft ofthe plunger andfinovement of the rock-V shaft, whereby the pallet of theescapeiiient i is released -whenfr the.` rock-.shaft and plunger reach .the `mavi'nium point of their movements, looselyk swingingmeans disposed i in the -path of said plunger and adapted-toihold la tter, with the; rockfshaft, against. coin- -plete movement i. through the 4 action of; the spring, said means being adaptedvtobeuazf- .-fectedffrom the .containerfexterion andi keyoperated :means wherebyvv saidy plunger. and .rock-shaft.may bewpositioned. f

18'; Analarmmechanism of'y the classde-l .scribed,..adapte`d to be 'installed iin a container, .comprising` an energized .alarm element, a spring-controlled rock-shaft adapted to control operation of said alarm element,

l a vertically movable plunger operatively connected with said rock-shaft so as to cause the rock-shaft and plunger to move in unison, tripping means adapted to be disposed,

when'the mechanism is in set.position, in an `opening in the container and arranged beneath said plunger, said tripping means being adapted to prevent the plunger from moving into its maximum depressed position, said tripping means being adapted to move intoreleasing position through move* ment of the container whereby the tripping l 'means is caused to move either vertically or in sidewise direction.

9. In alarm. mechanism of the class de-l scribed, the combination of an energized alarm element, with a spring-controlled slidable plunger, means whereby said plunger maybe arrested against the action of its spring, a cartridge-holding member slidably and removably secured in alinement with the plunger, a pivotally mounted tripper arranged in contact with said plunger and adapted to release the latter from said rst means, and means operable with the alarm element and adapted to oscillate the pivot ally mounted .tripper so as to induce the latter to force the plunger out of arrested relation with the first means. p

V 10. Alarm mechanism of the class described, adapted to be installed in a container', comprising an energized alarm element, springsactuated means whereby said 'alarm element is controlled, a'vertically movable member arranged in operative recaused to move in either vertical or sideWise direction.

1-1. Alarm mechanism of the class de,`

scribed, adapted t0 be installed ina container and comprising an energized alarm element, a spring-controlled rock'- shaft adapted to control said alarm element, a vertically movable plunger operatively connected with the rock-shaft so as to prevent movement of the latter through the action Y of its spring, key-controlled means operable from the container exterior whereby the vertically movable plunger and said rockshaft may be controlled, a vertically and sidewise moving pendulum adapted to swing into vertical alinementI with said plunger and arrest the movement thereof, said pendulum being adapted to be affected from the container exterior so as to be moved out of Vvertical alinement with the plunger and thereby release the latter. and said rock-V shaft vand cause the alarm element to operate.

12. Alarm mechanism ofV the classfwdescribed, adapted to be installed in a con- `tainer andrcomprising a spring-controlledV alarm element provided with an escapement,

a rock-shaft adapted'to control the palletV of the escapement of said alarm, avertically slidable plunger connected with the,

rock-shaft, the plunger and rock-shaft being spring-actuated so asvto inducedownward movementof the plunger and rocking movement of said shaft, Awhereby the pallet fof the escapement is released when the rockshaft and plunger reachv the maximum point of their movements, avertically and side-1 wise movable pendulum disposed inthe path of said plunger andV adapted -to hold Y the latter, with the rockshaft,against co1nplete movement through Y the 'action of the spring, and trlpping'means adapted to support said'pendulum in the path of said plunger, said tripping means being adapted to be aiected at a point removed from said mechanism and therebyy cause .the pendulum to move out'of the path of said plunger and i Y permit the latter with said rocksshaft'to complete theA movement VYinduced said f AJAMES M. BUTGHER; Y s EDMUN'D'B rUNsToN. f 4VVitnessesi Y G. HEDMAN,

FLQRELL; 

